Format cd... The Help is driving me crazy 3

[PeterWallace]

I want to format a Cd ....

The Help says Bring Up Autoplay .... I do

Help Then says ... Click on Burn Files to Diskusing Windows Explorer .... I WOULD exept that there is NO *@#$$#@&&& such option displayed


I can Bring up Windows Explorer and Click Format
But that does NOT give me the LIKE A USB option

I Want a CD That I can write Data Files to on one M/c

go to another site and Read thhem on another m/c

Peter

 

[rclarke250]

You do not need to format the cd, When you put a blank cd in the drive, windows autoplay will open a dialog. If you want to burn files, and not create an audio cd, choose burn files to disk. This will start the wizard for creating your cd. Enter the title in the area, and than choose what format the disk writing will be in, live or mastered. This is the same as the open session and finalized sessions from other cd burning software. It basically means in a live or open session, you can continue to add files to the cd until it is full, but you will loose the ability for some operating systems and all set top devices to read the data, i.e music or movies.

I use mastered as I want to close my cd's from further writing. Windows explorer will open, choose the files or folders you want to write to the cd, and right click and choose sent to, and use the menu to select your cdrw/dvdrw drive letter. after you have sent the files to the drive, a little bubble down in your tray should pop up saying you have files to write to the disk and a window will be open in the quick launch area. click on it, delete any files you don't want like the desktop configuration file that windows always wants to stick in there. and click on the burn button at the top.

When it is done writing it will eject the disk, close the drive and check to make sure you can read the contents.
there are many free programs out that make burning files to a cd or dvd easier than the one built in to windows 7, but it does work.

 

[PeterWallace]

I have a RW cd I want to RE-format ...

I am going to put Data Files on it

Folders and Sub foldes

And It Needs to be used on M/c s with various Windows Versions

Peter

 

[xwb]

It is context dependent. You have to be on the CD drive (not in one of the directories) before the option comes up.

If you need to read it on other versions of windows, it has to be mastered. The default option is only readable on Vista and 7.

 

[linney]

When your right-click on the CD (that is in the drive) do you have an option "Erase this Disk"?

After you have erased it you can then write new files to it.

These are some notes on the "format" of the CD, format is more like a file system for the CD as rclarke250 has explained.

Which CD or DVD format should I use?

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2af64e60-60aa-4d79-ab6c-3a5db5806cbe1033.mspx

Format a CD or DVD

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/3fdbacc1-0abd-4c62-a739-a3760508b59e1033.mspx

 

[PeterWallace]

MY Problem is this ... I CAN NOT GET to the point where I can Choose between Mastered ....USB ... etc

WHEN AutoPlay Box OPENS I get

Pictures Options
import ....

GENNERAL OPTIONS
Open Folder To View Files

THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO I GET

HELP Blathers about OPTIONS I DONT HAVE


WHen Open The CD

PROPERTIES GIVES ME A FORMAT

BUT NO ERASE !!!!!!!!!

AND The Format When Used Gives Me NO Choice as To Method Of Formatting

 

[linney]

Have you looked at this location and the various settings on offer?

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\AutoPlay

 

[rclarke250]

To erase all of the files on a disc

You can erase all the files at one time on a rewritable disc, such as CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, or DVD-RAM discs. You can do this for discs that use either the Live File System or Mastered disc format. The following steps for erasing a disc won't work for recordable discs, such as CD-R, DVD-R, or DVD+R discs.

1.

Insert the rewritable disc, such as a CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, or DVD-RAM disc, into your computer's CD, DVD, or Blu?ray Disc burner.
2.

Open Computer by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Computer.
3.

In Windows Explorer, click the CD, DVD, or Blu?ray Disc burner icon.
4.

On the toolbar, click Erase this disc, and then follow the steps in the wizard.

 

[smah]

Before getting too carried away looking for problems.......

Test with another rewriteable CD (from another brand/package, etc). Try the same CD in a different machine. None of the formatting options will be available if the drive does not see the disc as rewriteable media (for whatever reason- damaged media, defective drive)

 

[PeterWallace]

I have worked This Problem Out

And STILL maintain if HELP was better phrased and less presumpive then I would have solved much sooner


Thanks all for help given

Peter

 

[PRPhx]

I just looked at Help for erasing a DVD/Cd-Rom. It was very clear as to what you need to do. How much more do you want from it????